The following is the beginning of several column submissions from my son, Clay Gillespie, that will be shared over the next few months. He has agreed to write about some of his memories of growing up in Seminole plus some of his adventures of traveling with his work. Clay currently serves as VP of Sales and Marketing for The Chandy Group, which produces events, tours, and provides business development for speakers, authors and music artists.

Everyone needs a place where they feel welcome, part of a family, and valued. As the song says, “Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name.” That place for me was “Breedloves”, which was also the location of my first job. Breedloves, now known as Country Corner, four miles east of Seminole, was not only a gas station but also a mini grocery store and deli and meat market. To those living in that part of the county, most importantly it was the place to gather and see your friends, especially before and after work. My dad was one of the regulars who would sit in one of the booths early in the morning drinking his coffee and joking with his buddies as they came through the door. As I approached the age of 16, I never interviewed or applied for my first job. I just remember being told that I had a job waiting for me at Breedloves if I wanted it. I started working for the Breedlove family the day I turned 16. I was eager for my first official paycheck and to “retire” as my dad’s helper with his bricklaying business in the summers. An entire book could be written on the characters that came through those doors every day, but I want to focus this article on the things that I learned from working there that I have carried with me throughout my career.

The first thing I learned is that employees will take on the characteristics of their leader. If you have experienced a business with great customer service, then it starts at the top. I never attended a class and was never given a book to read on how to treat the customer. Don, Janice, Brett, and Lori Breedlove all taught me and my co-workers by their example. They knew that every customer mattered and welcomed them into their store as if it was their home.

Great customer service is about developing a relationship. We not only knew our customer’s names, but we knew when they were celebrating special occasions, or when they were going through a hard time. They might have stopped for a cup of coffee or a tank full of gas, but after Janice smiled and asked them about their kids or their day, they left knowing someone cared.

Another key to success that the Breedloves modeled was to give the customer what they want. The business continued to grow because the store offered things that those of us that didn’t live in town needed. Instead of driving 15-30 minutes into Seminole, a quick trip to Breedloves and you could get everything from fresh ground beef and steaks to minnows for fishing. They also knew that many people could use some help between paychecks. The Breedloves let people “charge” their gas and groceries and pay it off once a month. This was simply done by writing the customer’s name on paper and having them sign it.

Another thing I learned quickly while working at Breedloves is that women work as hard as men! Janice Breedlove worked such long hours, and I never once heard her complain. Also, during the two years I worked at Breedloves, I spent many hours working alongside Jamie Winkcompleck and did my best just to keep up. Never ever underestimate a working woman who has served me well in my career!

The most important thing I was taught, especially by Janice Breedlove, was to value and take care of employees, and then they will take care of the customers. I wanted to make Janice proud, so I worked extra hard. She always noticed even the small things that I did well and would show appreciation. She then started to give me more and more responsibilities and eventually I was opening the store on my own. I would arrive before 6 in the morning and get the store ready… brewing the coffee, turning on the gas pumps, frying the burritos and chicken, getting the cash ready in the registers. I still can’t believe I was doing that at 17 years of age! She might not have known it, but she was modeling how I would manage employees during my career.

I will never forget my time at Breedloves. Thank you to the entire Breedlove family for believing in me, loving me and loving our community for so many years. To those driving past without stopping, it might have just looked like another gas station but to many of us, it was a place where we were known and accepted. You might have even called it a second home but with better snacks!